College Football: Fumble return boosts Harding past Wonder Boys

Special to the Press Argus-Courier

Sunday

Nov 17, 2013 at 12:18 AM

RUSSELLVILLE — Harding senior safety Philip Mion had a game-changing fumble return and a key late interception to lead the Bisons to a 28-17 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday in Great American Conference action at Thone Stadium.

Harding improved to 8-2 overall and in the GAC, winning eight or more games in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Arkansas Tech dropped to 5-6 overall and 5-5 in the GAC.

The Bisons’ postseason possibilities remain uncertain. Harding was ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II Super Region 3 prior to the contest. The top six teams in the Super Region advance to the Division II Playoffs. More likely for Harding is a berth in the inaugural Texarkana Live United Bowl, which goes to the team in the GAC with the best record that did not make the playoffs.

Saturday’s game turned on the next-to-last play of the first half with the game tied at 7-7.

With 30 seconds remaining before halftime, Arkansas Tech had the ball at the Harding 4-yard line and a chance to take its first lead of the game. Following a timeout, quarterback Justin Owens headed right on 4th-and-1, but sophomore Daylan Skidmore knocked the ball loose and Mion scooped it at the 6-yard line and took it 94 yards for the second-longest fumble return in program history.

In 1960, Harding’s Jerry Mote, now the team’s color commentator on the radio broadcasts, returned a fumble 99 yards against the University of the Ozarks.

Arkansas Tech cut the lead to 14-10 on a 41-yard field goal by Tim VanOrsdol on the Wonder Boys’ first possession of the second half, but the Bisons took over from there.

Junior Ahmad Scott scored on a 22-yard run with 6:32 left in the third to give Harding a 21-10 lead.

Harding’s defense forced three Tech turnovers in the fourth quarter alone. The second turnover, a fumble recovered by Romas Roberson, led to a 1-yard touchdown by quarterback Keenan Kellett to give the Bisons a 28-10 advantage. It was Kellett’s second touchdown of the game and his 12th rushing score, tying him with Mike Vanlandingham (1978) for second-most in a Harding single season.

Arkansas Tech answered with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Preston Conder to Jerry Anderson on their next play to trim Harding’s lead to 11 points. The Wonder Boys were in Bison territory on their next possession, but with 2:36 left, Mion made his team-leading third interception of the season to seal the victory.